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A Standard and Reliable Method to Fabricate Two-Dimensional Nanoelectronics
Published on: August 28, 2018
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Bidirectional Superionic Conduction in Surface-Engineered 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitrides
Jasneet Kaur1, Adel Malekkhouyan1, Gurpreet S Selopal2,3
1Nano-Engineering Laboratory of Energy & Environmental Technologies, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 27, 2021
Summary
Functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (FhBN) nanoflakes offer enhanced proton conductivity for next-generation polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs). These FhBN-Nafion nanocomposites show significantly improved performance in energy storage and conversion systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) are crucial for energy storage and conversion.
- Current PEMs face limitations in proton conductivity and stability.
- Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is explored for its potential in advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (FhBN) nanoflakes.
- To develop high-performance FhBN-Nafion nanocomposite PEMs.
- To investigate the enhanced proton conductivity and properties of these novel PEMs.
Main Methods:
- One-step, in situ liquid-phase exfoliation for FhBN nanoflakes functionalized with sulfonic acid (SA) groups.
- Spectroscopic and microscopic characterization to confirm chemical interactions.
- Fabrication of FhBN-Nafion nanocomposite PEMs at high FhBN concentrations (65 and 75 wt %).
Main Results:
- FhBN nanoflakes exhibited excellent dispersibility and stability.
- FhBN-Nafion PEMs showed doubled ion-exchange capacity and reduced swelling compared to Nafion.
- Maximum in-plane and through-plane conductivities reached 0.41 and 0.1 S·cm⁻¹, respectively, significantly outperforming Nafion.
Conclusions:
- FhBN nanoflakes are effective in enhancing proton conductivity in PEMs.
- The developed FhBN-Nafion nanocomposites offer superior performance for electrochemical energy devices.
- Bidirectional superionic transport in FhBN PEMs leads to outstanding properties.
Keywords:
2D hexagonal boron nitride nanoflakesGrotthuss mechanismenergy materialsliquid-phase exfoliationpolymer electrolyte membranesproton conductivityMore Related Videos
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